Three-way toggle switch



Jan. 28, 1958 F. L. NEEDHAM 2,821,589

TlREE-'WAY TOGGLE SWITCH Filed NOV.' 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Franc/s Leo Needham INVENToR.

BY un/MW 5mm Jan. 28,' 1958 F. L.. NEEDHAM 2,321,589

THREE-WAY ToGGLE SWITCH Filed Nov. 29, 1955 A2 sheets-sheet 2 Franc/'s Leo Needham so INVENToR.

United States PatentO "ice This invention relates to improvements in switches and particularly to a three-way toggle switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide a threeway toggle switch which is cap able of making and breaking contact very quickly in order to minimize arcing and wear on the contacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a threeway switch which is constructed in such a way that a minrirnum of volume is required in order to have the parts assembled in a compact unit whereby the switch box which houses the switch has more room in it for wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double throw, three-way switch which is assembled in such a way 4as to be capable of occupying a minimum volume, the

switch having for its size a high current carrying capacity and yet, due to the unique structural arrangement it can be assembled more economically than most switches that are presently available.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like nuf merals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a switch made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the switch;

Figure 5 is an end view of the switch;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of one of the contact supporting plates and means for holding that plate assembled with the case of the switch;

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a bridge which is used to connect the second and fourth contacts of the switch;

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on a line 8-8 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the switch case together with the parts which fit therein.

In the accompanying drawings there is a switch 10 illustrated in assembled form, the latter being ready to be fastened in a switch box. For this purpose a mounting plate 12 that is provided with offset slotted ends 14 and 16 t0- gether with aprtured central body portion 18, is shown assembled in Figure 1. This mounting plate has an opening 20 through which the operating lever 22 passes. There are raised portions 23 and 24 in the center of the mounting plate 12 under which trunnions 26 and 28 are disposed. These trunnions are fixed to the sides of the operating lever 22 near the bottom thereof and function to mount the operating lever 22 for pivotal movement.

There is an electrically insulating case 30 in which the various contacts and other elements of the switch are assembled. The case is of electrically insulating material of a commonly used type, such as Bakelite or other plastics.

2,821,589 Patented Jan. 28, 195,8

The case 30 has a bottom 32, ends 34 and 36 and sides 38 and 40. The top of the case is open, mounting plate 12 functioning to close the open top of the case. In the side 38 there are apertures 41 and 42 through which access is had to the terminals 43 and 44, the latter being screws that are threaded in apertures in plates 45 and 46. Slots 47 and 48 which open upwardly, are arranged behind apertures 41 and 42 on the inner surface of wall 38. The slots are formed by an inner wall 49 which is molded with case 30 and spaced slightly from the inner surface of wall 38. Vertical passages 50 and 51 are formed in the end walls 34 and 36 and are in registry with slots 47 and 48, actually forming a part of each. The wall 40 is constructed identically, having apertures 52 and 53 'for access to terminals 54 and 55, the latter being preferably screws as are terminals 43 and 44. Upwardly opening slots 56 and 57 are formed behind the wall 40.

There are four contacts in the case 30, there being the rst contact 58, the second contact 59, the third contact 60 and finally the fourth contact 61. Each is formed of a curved strip of resilient material, as copper. Electrically conductive plate 45 has a threaded aperture in it accommodating contact 53. This plate is fitted in slot 47 -and held in place by driving an electrically insulating strip 62 in the slot 47 behind the plate 45. Strip 62 frictionally holds the plate 45 in place. This plate has a lateral extension 64 at one end thereof to which an end of the third contact 60 is riveted or otherwise xed. Accordingly, when plate 45 is dropped in slot 47, contact 60 is positioned in substantially parallel relationship to the plane of plate 45 and in a compartment 66 which is defined by the 'surfaces of end Wall 34, wall 49 and one surface of stop 67. Stop 67 is of insulating material and rises from the bottom 32 of the case 30. The front surface 69 of the stop 67 is sloped with respect to the vertical, and the outer end of the contact 60 protrudes forwardly of this front sloped surface.

The plate 46 has a lateral offset 71 to which the first contact 58 is secured as by being riveted. The insulating strip 72 is tted in slot 48 after plate 46 is inserted therein. In so doing the contact 58 is positioned in compartment 73 which is formed by a part of the surface of wall 49, the end wall 36 and stop 74 that rises from the bottom of the case 30. The front surface 76 of the stop 74 is sloped as is the surface 69 of stop 67. Contact 58 is sufficiently long to protrude forwardly of the inclined surface 76.

Contacts 59 and 61 are riveted to the lateral extensions or offsets 79 and 80, the latter being perpendicular to the common plane of plates 81 and 82. These plates 81 and 82 function identically to plates 45 and 46 inasmuch as they are inserted in the slots 56 and 57 and have apertures therein in order to accommodate the terminals 54 and 55. However, the bridge 78 connects the plates 81 and 82 so that there is electrical conductivity therebetween. Individual electrically insulating strips 83 and 84 are driven into the slots 56 and 57 after insertion of plates 81 and 82 together with the integrally formed bridge 78 therebetween. The length of contacts 59 and 60 is such with respect to the stops 67 and 74 that the outer ends protrude beyond the inclined surfaces 69 and 76 thereof.

A rocker contact 84 is disposed in case 30 and is of sufficient width to bridge the rst and second contacts or the third and fourth contacts depending upon the position of the rocker contact 84. Structurally, it is of electrically conductive material including arms 85 and 86, each having a saddle bearing at its end disposed on trunnions 26 and 28. A spring 87 has one end attached, as by being in an aperture in the rocker contact 84 and the other end anchored to the operating lever 22. This is accomplished by molding a plate 89 in the hollow lever 22 and forming an opening in it to accept the hooked end of the spring 81.

- ,3 The spring 87 is so dimensioned that upon movement of the actuating lever from the position shown in Figure 2 to the opposite position, the spring 87 pulls the rocker contact 84 .through .an over center` position and forcibly snaps it to .a position 4where it `rests.upon.surface 69 .oaf stop 67. In :this position. a; tace of 'rocker .Contact 84 comes to bear against the. outer. .endsno the third- :and fourth contacts 60 and 61, respectively. In the: position shown in Figure 1, the opposite face .of the. rocker contact 84 is bearing against surface 7.'.6 of stop 74 and is touching the rst and second contacts 58 and 59., respectively.

Although various means may be used for attaching the mounting plate 12 to the ,case 30, a. simplified construction is to mold four lugs 90, 91,` 92 and 93 onlthe end walls 34 and 36 and to strike tongues such as those at 9.4and 95 from the mounting plate 12 and bend them around .the lugs on the case.

In use, the switch is mounted in a box in the usual manner. The terminals 44 and 43 are used forserviceothe equipment, such as a wall outlet, electric light, or the like, while the terminals 54 and 55 are used for connecting in the hot side of the electrical line. Then, the switchis ready for use by .actuating the lever 22 which, in turn, bridges the sets of contacts in the switch case 30 as.- de.- scribed previously.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of. the principles of the invention. Further since numerousmodications and changesV will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction vand operation shown and described,.and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1.. In a toggle switch which has a case, an actuator mounted for pivotal movement in said case, a rocker contact, and aspring which drivingly connects said rockercontact and said actuator,` the improvement comprising a` first pair and a second pair of contacts, means mounting said contacts in said case in the path of travel of said rocker contact, stops located between individual contacts of said pairs of contacts and having inclined surfaces .against which said rocker contact is adapted to come to bear,V and portions of said pairs of contacts protruding beyond the inclined surfaces of said stops in order to be touched by said rocker contact when said rocker contact is resting upon said inclined surfaces, said case having sides in which there are upwardly opening slots, said means mounting said contacts in said case including electrically conductive plates having lateral olsets to which said contacts are secured, there being one plate andV one offset for each contact, two of said plates having a bridge which connects them for electrical conductivity, said electrically conductive plates being .disposed in said slots, electrically insulating strips in said slots in addition to said plates for preventing said plates from being separated from said slots, the case having apertures therein which expose parts of said plates, and electrical terminals carried by said plates and located in said apertures, said case having end walls attached to said side walls, a bottom wall attached to said end Walls and said side walls, said side walls having raised portions along the upper edges thereof, a mounting plate having correspondingly raised portions nested with the raised portions of said side walls, the inner parts of said side walls having upwardly opening recesses, said actuator having trunnions protruding laterally therefrom with 'the outer extremities ofA said trunnions ydisposed within the contines of saidside walls, and said trunnions mounted for oscillation inusaid upwardly opening recesses in said side walls.

2. Thetoggle switch of claim l wherein the two of said platesfthat have the bridge connected therewith have one contact of one pair attached thereto and one contact of the other pair attached thereto, and the other two plates being `isolated from eachother.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,267 Kellner Oct. 29, 1929 1,850,785 Bentley Mar. 22, 1932 1,852,899 Ramsay Apr. 5, 1932 1,998,353 Bennett Apr. 16, 1935 2,570,281 Russell Oct. 9, 1951 2,734,115 Dupre Feb. 7, 1956 

